See-through Goldfish

Japanese researchers have succeeded in developing see through goldfish, whose beating hearts and other organs can be seen through their transluscent skin. The move to develop see through goldfish (and other animals) was spurred by the desire to reduce/eliminate dissections of animals, still a sore point for many.

The joint team of researchers at Mie University and Nagoya University in central Japan produced the “ryukin” goldfish by picking mutant hatchery goldfish with pale skin and breeding them together.

“Having a pale colour is a disadvantage for goldfish in an aquarium but it’s good to see how organs sit in a body three-dimensionally,” Tamaru told AFP.

The fish are expected to live up to roughly 20 years and could grow as long as 25 centimetres (10 inches) and weigh more than two kilograms (five pounds), much bigger than other fish used in experiments, such as zebrafish and Japanese medaka, Tamaru said.